Online Gambling in South Dakota: Quick Facts
- Legal South Dakota online gambling options? N/A
- Legal gambling age: N/A
- Who regulates South Dakota online gambling? N/A
- Legal mobile gambling? No
- Do I need to be physically located in South Dakota to gamble online? N/A
- Do I need to be a resident of South Dakota to gamble online? N/A
- Sports available to bet on: N/A
A Brief History of South Dakota Online Gambling
South Dakota has a long history when it comes to gambling, but most of it was done illegally. This was once a popular spot during the migration to the West, but lawmakers ultimately decided to prohibit casino gambling.
It wasn’t until 1989 when lawmakers passed a bill to approve gambling in the town of Deadwood. To this day, the only commercial casinos available are located there, but there are now more than 30 different casinos.
South Dakota continues to have a law in place that makes all forms of online gambling illegal. There have not really been any attempts to change that law, and it won’t likely happen in the future either.
Limiting casino gambling to Deadwood allows for that town to prosper, and it limits illegal activity being done online. Sports betting has recently been approved, but that will also only be offered on a retail basis.
South Dakota Online Gambling: The Current Law
- All forms of online gambling are illegal.
- Casino gambling available in Deadwood and at tribal casinos.
- Legal gambling age is 21 years of age.
- Limited sports betting coming in 2021.
Legal Online Sportsbooks
Sports betting is coming to South Dakota in 2021, albeit in a limited way. There is also the potential to be mobile gambling. The law does restrict mobile gambling to casino properties. But it does appear that the option will at least be available.
Voters in South Dakota approved sports betting on the ballot in November 2020. That gave lawmakers the power to pass a bill to legalize the industry. That was done quickly in 2021. However, there was never a real chance that statewide online sports betting would be available.
Tribal casinos can also offer sports betting in South Dakota, but they can’t launch online sportsbooks either. This will limit the potential growth of the market, but at least bettors in the state will have another option.
Sports Betting in South Dakota
South Dakota is not home to any professional sports teams, and that is going to hurt the state when it comes to overall betting handle. The National Football League is expected to be the biggest betting market, but the NHL could also be big in the state.
Both football and hockey are popular in South Dakota, and there are some popular teams in neighboring states. Both the NBA and MLB should also bring in some action in South Dakota, but they will not be as popular as the other leagues.
When sports betting is offered in South Dakota, here are the top betting options that you will see offered from the sportsbooks:
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is simply a bet on which team will win a certain sporting event. This is the easiest bet to make in the sports betting industry, but it is not one that you will see a big profit from.
Points Spread
Betting against the spread is a common term used in sports betting, and it refers to a points spread bet. This bet is most commonly placed on a football or basketball game, but it is offered with other sports as well. This is considered the next step up from making a moneyline bet.
Totals (Over/Under)
A totals bet, or an over/under, is popular with all sports, and it is much different than a moneyline or points spread bet. With a totals bet, you are simply focusing on the total number of points, runs, or goals that are scored in a certain game.
Prop Bets
Prop betting has started to become popular, and not just on the Super Bowl each year. This type of betting is typically seen as a fun way to bet on sports, and sportsbooks continue to come up with new prop bets to offer.
Future Bets
Future bets are common in the US as well, but there isn’t a conclusion to this type of bet for a long time. Futures odds are set months in advance and are then updated or changed as the season goes on. Betting on a league championship is one of the most common future bets that are made.
Parlay Bets
Parlay betting has become extremely popular with sports bettors, and it's offered by all of the sportsbooks as well. This bet can potentially lead to a big payoff, but there is also plenty of risks involved. This bet requires bettors to add a number of bets or “legs” to increase the odds and the potential payout.
Legal Online Casinos
Online casino gambling is not legal in South Dakota at this time, and there is a specific reason for that. Casino revenue has saved the town of Deadwood, and those casinos can’t afford to give up that revenue.
It would be these casinos that would be in charge of online casino gambling, but that would hurt the amount of traffic that traveled to that part of the state. Online casinos in South Dakota would bring in more revenue for the state as a whole, but it would come at a cost.
The Silverado Franklin Hotel and Casino is the biggest property in the state, but there are others that are nearly just as big. This town attracts thousands of casino gamblers each month.
Legal Online Poker
Poker can be played in the state of South Dakota, but all of the poker must be played at the casinos in Deadwood. There are plenty of poker rooms available in Deadwood, and that does provide plenty of options.
Similar to online casinos, lawmakers have not explored legalizing online poker as it would hurt the current system. Launching an online poker site is also very different from an online casino, and that could create a challenge.
How to Set Up a South Dakota Online Gambling Account
South Dakota lawmakers require in-person registration for sports betting, but you will have to travel to the casinos to place a bet anyways. You can’t create an account online, but you will then be able to access some of the features from your mobile device.
When you go to sign up for an account in South Dakota, you will be asked to provide some basic personal information. Most of this information should be on your driver’s license or ID card, but you will also be required to provide at least the last four digits of your social security number.
This information will only be used to verify your identity, and it is going to be kept safe and secure with the casino or sportsbook. After your identification has been verified, you can then move onto the next step of the process.
You will be able to create a username and password that you can use to access the online account if applicable. Even if you are gambling at a casino in person, you will still likely need an account.
If South Dakota does launch online casino gambling, then the process will be similar, and it can be done in a matter of minutes.
South Dakota Banking Methods
Since all of the gambling is going to be done in person, that will limit the banking options when it comes to gambling in the state. If online gambling ever became an option, that would increase the number of deposit and withdrawal methods that were available.
The best banking option in South Dakota is to visit the teller at the casino or retail sportsbook. This is where you can pay with cash or with a credit/debit card.
Online sports betting will be available, and you can access your account without ever stepping foot in the sportsbook. If that is the case, then you will see a long list of banking methods available, including:
- Neteller
- Skrill
- PayPal
- Online Bank Transfer
Since this will be new to South Dakota, it will be smart to check out the available banking methods when you access the mobile account.
The Future of Online Gambling in South Dakota
The future of online gambling in South Dakota doesn’t look too promising as the state is going to continue to protect the town of Deadwood. Since lawmakers have not yet even discussed the possibility of expanding online gambling, it won’t be happening anytime soon.
South Dakota is a state that is looking for new revenue sources, and that could cause lawmakers to explore online gambling. The success or lack of success when it comes to sports betting will also play a role.
